Cluxatawney Henrietta Makes Prediction On Early Spring

SOMERS, NY — Despite what a rodent in Pennsylvania said Thursday morning, in the Hudson Valley, the prediction is for an early spring.

That is what Muscoot Farm’s own Cluxatawney Henrietta determined with the laying of an egg.

Farm Manager Jonathon Benjamin spoke for Henrietta at a ceremony outside the farm’s activity barn, in front of local officials and families who came to the fifth annual Groundhog Day event.

“Henrietta says, ‘I predict an early spring,’ ” Benjamin said, at a news conference, holding both the chicken and the egg that were both taken out of a crate.

Henrietta, who was clucking softly while Benjamin spoke, produced an egg which, according to tradition, means there will be an early spring.

That is the opposite of what Punxautawney Phil predicted when he saw his shadow in Gobbler’s Knob earlier Thursday morning.

The world-famous Phil predicted six more weeks of winter, which may seem closer to reality with Friday’s forecast in Somers of a high of 21 degrees and a low of 2 degrees.

Muscoot Farm is located 51 Route 100 in Somers. The farm is open everyday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the exception of major holidays.